Kingdom of God, Part 6: The Mediatorial Kingdom in the Epistles.Thursday September 17, 2026
Main idea: Because every saint in the church is an member of the kingdom of Christ, in the world, of which he is a sojourner, he is to live and conduct himself in the way of the kingdom.
Intro:
Church is not the kingdom.
The epistles are mainly concerned with the function of the church on earth, in time.
Between these two events, the church is treated as an interim – until the Lord comes.
1Co 4:5 wait until the Lord comes
The church is never perfect in time and faces the following:
A time of humiliation (Phi 3:21), testing (Jam 1:12), trouble and persecution (2Co 4:8-9), suffering and groaning (Rom 8:18-23), patient endurance (Jam 5:7-11), refining and perfecting (Jam 1:2-4), unceasing labor (1Co 3:8-15), agonizing conflict (1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 4:7), and unrelenting struggle toward a goal which lies beyond this age and world (Phi 3:12-14). For the present, therefore, the members of the Church must in a peculiar sense walk by faith (2Co 5:7), live in hope (Rom 8:24-25), endure hardship as good soldiers of Christ (2Ti 2:3), not looking at the things which are seen but at the things not seen (2Co 4:18).
Church doesn’t build the kingdom (Luk 19:12) nor usher it in (Mat 25:31, 34).
Luk 19:12 A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.
Mat 25:31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory …
The kingdom is still future (2Ti 4:1; 4:18; 1Co 15:50; Mat 13:43).
Pilgrim character. Purity of hope.
The kingdom in the epistles:
The character of the kingdom in present conduct (Rom 14:17; 1Co 4:20).
Righteousness, peace, joy, and power in the Holy Spirit as opposed to boastful words (1Co 4:20).
Every saint will be in the kingdom and inheritors as children of God - so certain that it is spoken of as a present possession (Col 1:13; Eph 2:6; Heb 12:28).
Christ rules the church as Head, and the governments as seated at the Father’s right hand, but not yet legally and externally.
God’s ways are higher than ours. He allows sin and injustice and has an ultimate purpose.
The nations are ignorant of His rule, but that will not be the case during His Millennial reign.
Rom 14 - a glimpse at the character of the kingdom in the saints in the world.
Members have the conduct of the kingdom (1Th 2:12) while living in the material, earthly world.
1Th 2:12 that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
The kingdom is not food and drink: why is this a necessary wisdom? Rom 14:1-12.
We live in the necessity of food and drink and regard for days (differ - under the sun “time”).
We cannot control need.
Three negative commands:
Let us not judge (13): we are not able to rule so we cannot judge.
Do not destroy (15): by judging them or causing stumbling with your own liberty (Gal 5:13).
Gal 5:13 do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Do not let what is for you good be spoken of as evil (16).
A declaration (Rom 4:17): the kingdom of God is…
Righteousness (slave to sanctification); peace (result of love; Col 3:12-17); joy (result of thankfulness; Col 3:16) - all in the Spirit (one of the many blessings of the inheritors of the kingdom of light).
He who “in this” serves Christ is “acceptable” (well-pleasing; euarestos).
A positive command: So then we pursue (dioko PAS): the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (19).
Negative command reminder: Do not tear down the work of God (in another) for the sake of food (20).
Conclusion: Kingdom conduct in the material world means that the way of the kingdom.
Love, joy, peace, righteousness in the Holy Spirit) is to always take precedence over material.
The character of Christ, which will be the way of all in His kingdom, is now in our heart - living for transcendent God first. (allow God to take care of needs)
Secular mindset: emphasis on the here and now and concluding that the real meaning in life, my guidance, and my happiness are understood and sought in the present-time economic prosperity, material comfort, and emotional fulfillment.
The Christian in the secular culture is constantly tempted with secular mindset.
Professing faith and biblical knowledge but the impact on life decisions and conduct are mainly “under the sun.”
Sacrificing personal peace and affluence for transcendent causes becomes rare.
The kingdom of God in the age of the church becomes a certain future of hope.
Hope springs boldness in gospel speaking and presentation.
Potential in grace to all springs love for the world.
Love for the world shines forth to the hearts of those who rarely see God’s love in another. |